Healthcare workers on Universal Credit fear pay award will be 'taken from them'

Connor Lynch

21 June 2024 at 10:25 am·2-min read

Healthcare workers in Northern Ireland who are on Universal Credit fear that a back pay payment they are due to receive will be "taken from them" due to the rules of the benefit system.

At the end of June NHS workers in NI will receive a pay-rise and associated back-pay with a pay award of £1,505 in August.

While the news has been welcomed by many within the health service, there are others who fear that the £1,505 pay award will be "taken away from them" due to the rules governing Universal Credit that will see any additional funds they receive coming out of their future payments.

Speaking to Belfast Live, public health nurse and single mum of four, Suzanne Callender, said that she was very worried about how the payment would impact her and her family, believing that it will not be what has been promised to her and others like her in receipt of Universal Credit.

She said: "I am very worried about how this pay rise and pay award will affect my Universal Credit payments once I receive it because the additional money I receive will be deemed as additional income from that month and will likely see me have some of my payments stopped as a result.

"I am a single mum and rely heavily on these payments to support my family and it is very disheartening to hear colleagues talk about how they are going to spend the additional payment they receive when I know that it will mean very little to me due to reduced Universal Credit payments afterwards.

"It does not seem fair that those within the health service who are on Universal Credit, of which there are thousands, will not get the benefit of this pay award compared to others that we work with who are not on it and are already in a better financial position.

"It is so disappointing for us and something should be done to ensure that this payment will not lead to healthcare workers having their Universal Credit payments reduced or stopped after receiving it."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Department is aware that any additional income may have unwelcome implications for any individual in receipt of income assessed benefits. Individuals in receipt of Universal Credit should seek advice from their work coach or contact the service centre on 0800 0121 331, as neither the Department, nor individual employers can offer advice on benefit entitlements. HSC staff will receive their consolidated pay uplift (and associated back pay) in the June 2024 pay run; the non-consolidated award (£1505 pro-rata) will be paid in August 2024."

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